Searching and accessing application functionality

Abstract

A method includes receiving, at a computing device, search results transmitted from a search system in communication with the computing device. The search results include a header for an application executable on the computing device and application access mechanisms associated with the header. Each application access mechanism has a reference to the application and indicates one or more performable operations for the application. The method further includes displaying, on a display in communication with the computing device, a graphical user interface including the header and user selectable access links grouped with the header. Each access link is associated with an application access mechanism for the application.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving, at a mobile computing device, search results based on a search query, wherein the search results indicate a plurality of native applications installable and executable on the mobile computing device, wherein the search results include a plurality of groups of search results, and wherein each group of the plurality of groups of search results includes: 
 a header for a corresponding native application executable on the mobile computing device and a default application access mechanism associated with the header, wherein the header corresponds to a default state of the corresponding native application, and 
 a group of two or more application access mechanisms, wherein each application access mechanism includes a reference to the corresponding native application and indicates one or more performable operations that cause the corresponding native application to enter an operating state, wherein each operating state of each application access mechanism corresponds to an execution state of a corresponding native application executing on the mobile computing device, and the execution state is a state in which at least one of the one or more performable operations is performed on the mobile computing device, 
 displaying, on a display in communication with the mobile computing device, a graphical user interface including the plurality of groups of search results, wherein each of the plurality of groups of search results is displayed in a visual region that is non-overlapping with others of the plurality of groups of search results, 
 upon user selection of an application access mechanism of the two or more application access mechanisms, launching an application corresponding to the selected application access mechanism, and 
 accessing an execution state of the launched application. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search query comprises at least one of a text, numbers, or symbols entered into the mobile computing device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the mobile computing device, the search query in a search field of the graphical user interface of a search application running on the mobile computing device. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the mobile computing device, additional data along with the search query. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the additional data comprises geo-location data that indicates a location of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus comprising:
 a transceiver; 
 a memory; and 
 a processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
 receive, at the transceiver, search results based on a search query, wherein the search results indicate a plurality of native applications installable and executable on the processor of a mobile computing device, wherein the search results include a plurality of groups of search results, and wherein each group of the plurality of groups a search results includes:
 a header for a corresponding native application executable on the processor and a default application access mechanism associated with the header, wherein the header corresponds to a default state of the corresponding native application, and 
 a group of two or more application access mechanisms, wherein each application access mechanism includes a reference to the corresponding native application and indicates one or more performable operations that cause the corresponding native application to enter an operating state, wherein each operating state of each application access mechanism corresponds to an execution state of a corresponding native application executing on the mobile computing device, and the execution state is a state in which at least one of the one or more performable operations is performed on the mobile computing device; 
 
 display, on a display in communication with the processor, a graphical user interface including the plurality of groups of search results, wherein each of the plurality of groups a search results is displayed in a visual region that is non-overlapping with others of the plurality of groups of search results, 
 upon user selection of an application access mechanism of the two or more application access mechanisms, launch an application corresponding to the selected application access mechanism, and 
 access an execution state of the launched application. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the search query comprises at least one of a text, numbers, or symbols entered into the mobile computing device. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, at the transceiver, the search query in a search field of the graphical user interface of a search application running on the mobile computing device. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, at the transceiver, additional data along with the search query. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the additional data comprises geo-location data that indicates a location of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
       11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store one or more computer programs including instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 receive search results based on a search query, wherein the search results indicate a plurality of native applications installable and executable on a mobile computing device, wherein the search results include a plurality of groups of search results, and wherein each group of the plurality of groups of search results includes: 
 a header for a corresponding native application executable on the mobile computing device and a default application access mechanism associated with the header, wherein the header corresponds to a default state of the corresponding native application, and 
 a group of two or more application access mechanisms, wherein each application access mechanism includes a reference to the corresponding native application and indicates one or more performable operations that cause the corresponding native application to enter an operating state, wherein each operating state of each application access mechanism corresponds to an execution state of a corresponding native application executing on the mobile computing device, and the execution state is a state in which at least one of the one or more performable operations is performed on the mobile computing device; 
 display a graphical user interface including the plurality of groups of search results, wherein each of the plurality of groups of search results is displayed in a visual region that is non-overlapping with others of the plurality of groups of search results, 
 upon user selection of an application access mechanism of the two or more application access mechanisms, launch an application corresponding to the selected application access mechanism, and 
 access an execution state of the launched application.